The British Steelies Society

There's a GFI on Market place if anyone is interested £1,490
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... f2b6e27bea

My 1st pedal steel was a GFI student, in red. It only had 2 knee levers on the E's. It was a decent steel to start on, pull /release mechanism. That price looks way too much though imho, unless prices have skyrocketed in the last few years. I bought mine 2nd hand for £550 and sold it for the same price. OK mine only had 2 knee levers but £1490?

Geoff prices have rocketed, that's probably why so few young people are taking up playing steel.

Gawd, I'm glad I got in when I did then. Looking at the new price of these from Promenade Music they are selling for £2299, so I guess in that sense the price being asked is reasonable.

I think though that if I was starting now and with the benefit of hindsight, I would have not gone down the student route. I would probably go for something a bit more pro 2nd hand. I'm not seeing many 2nd hand Pro steels like Carter etc for sale here these days. John gets some nice guitars in and has passed on a lot of Bennets recently. I would probably go for a Bennet rather than a student GFI. I've never played one but by all accounts they are well made, good sounding steels and are a good bang for your Buck.

It is a shame as you say that there is not an easy route in for young people these days, as far as I can see, most big steel builders are currently concentrating on the upper end of the market, with few if any catering for beginners.